Age does not just weary the body, it can also affect the mind and the strength of your nerve, even when you are as great a player as Serena Williams.

The world No 1, nearly 32, suffered a major failure of resolve before finally summoning up the composure to win a fifth US Open title with an ultimately comfortable 7-5 6-7 6-1 victory over Victoria Azarenka.

Twice Williams failed to serve the match out in the second set and then let slip a lead in the tiebreak, before bearing down in the decider against a fading opponent.

Champion: Serena Williams beat Victoria Azarenka to win her fifth US Open title

Jumping with joy: She showed her delight at finally managing to get over the line

Azarenka is one of the few players on
the WTA Tour who is not intimidated by the American and defiantly
refused to give the match away, even when it seemed lost at 4-1 down in
the second.

But in the end
it was Williams doing a pogo of delight as she asserted her superiority.
She now has 17 Grand Slams and moves within five of Steffi Graf’s
phenomenal total.

Together
with a bonus from events prior to the Open her winner’s cheque was a
massive £2.3million, taking her over the £32million mark for her
career.

Wobbling early on as she struggled with the capricious gusts that cascaded down the banks of the vast Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Intent: A determined Azarenka was hoping to avenge last year's final result

Roaring: Serena unleashing her pent up emotion

At full stretch: Williams scrambling to get back a return after a powerful Azarenka shot

Causing a stir: Both players were struggling with the wind, especially during the start of the match

US Open boys' title

There were no US Open titles for British players but the boys’ winner was 16 year-old Croatian Borna Coric, who beat Australia’s Thanasi Kokknakis 3-6 6-3 6-1.

He is coached by Englishman Ryan Jones and is based at the Virgin Academy in Northwood, Middlesex.

She
has suffered two meltdowns in big matches here in the last four years
with umpires and lines-people, so it was ironic that being foot-faulted in
this match presaged the decisive breakthrough in the first set.

At
4-5 and serving she calmly accepted the call after straying over the
baseline, took the game, and then broke her 24 year-old opponent against
the overall run of play.

Once
she had closed out the set she put behind her the initial anxieties
about the wind, which had frequently left her looking flatfooted as she
missed groundstrokes.

The
second set originally seemed more straightforward, and when Azarenka
twice double faulted to go 4-1 behind the contest looked to be over.

Tense times: Serena's sister Venus and mother Oracene Price watched the final from the stands

Epic encounter: Boris Becker takes a sneaky photo on his phone

Frustration: Serena remonstrating with herself after missing two chances to serve for the championship

The
blonde from Belarus is, however, at least as fierce a competitor as
Serena and fired up her returns as she sensed the nerves seeping into
her opponent.

She came
storming back to 5-5 as the American tightened in sight of the finish
line and failed to serve it out at 5-4 and again at 6-5.

That
forced a tiebreak, in which the American got a mini-break up for 3-2
before again struggling to keep the ball in the court. She angrily
smashed her racket into the concrete as the second seed took five of the
next seven points.

She imposed her will after breaking for 3-1 and Azarenka went quietly – if you can ever say that about one who makes such a din.

Brute force: Williams using her power to devastating effect

Fist pumping: Both players were not afraid to show their emotion during the match

Every sinew: Azarenka stretches to the ends of her reach to get the ball back

Onlookers: Former President Bill Clinton and actor Hugh Jackman were two of the famous faces in the crowd